Behavior

Roger T. Hanlon

Behavior

Giant cuttlefish have the remarkable ability to dynamically change color and pattern for a wide variety of key behaviors involving camouflage and communication. Sepia apama is mainly active during the day and uses camouflage to hide among rock reefs and seaweed. Cuttlefish usually sit on or hover slightly above the bottom. Sepia apama can move slowly with stealth, swim or employ jet propulsion in bursts of surprising speed. This species preys on live fish, crabs and other crustaceans. All members of the Sepioidea use jets of ink to confuse foes during escapes. They are generally solitary animals (except when breeding) and curious about divers. Sepia apama skin posesses a dense layer of pigmented chromatophores, mainly yellow, red, black and brown, as well as a wide variety of iridophores (creating iridescence in the skin for camouflage and communication) and leucophores that produce whiteness in their body patterns. They also have controllable skin papillae that can dramatically alter their appearance.